Ten tips to buy a good laptop computer
By coliveira
Todays market is crowded with offers from computer vendors that want to sell you their products. And sometimes these offers promote computers and accessories that don't satisfy your personal requirements - and just dig a big whole in your pocket. If you are a student, a small business owner, or just a regular professional, you need to look for a laptop that will be reliable and at the same time will not suck all your money.
These are a set of tips that have worked for me and several other people when buying laptop computers. Although the number of options in the market is vast, there are a few things that, when you put the required attention, will result in an excellent buying choice.
Dell Laptops
 | Amazon Price: $610.00 List Price: $619.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $819.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $749.99 |
| Amazon Price: $750.00 List Price: $679.99 |
Finding the best deal in computers is not always that easy. Many stores, specially when the holidays are approaching, put together deals that look promising at first sight, but that are really bad if you don't pay enough attention.
Getting a good computer comes up to select quality for the right price. Although saving money is important, it is not a matter of just saving in the store. You should look at the long term savings by your equipment. That is why it is important to look at some of the items bellow.
1. Be aware of the warranty
One of the most overlooked issues when buying a laptop is the warranty. In the excitement of the new toy you don't even care about this. However, when the laptop has a problem this can be a real headache.
Make sure that you get informed if the warranty for your equipment is good enough. Check with friends that had to use the customer services if the company is efficient. Finally, check if you need to buy an additional coverage package. (more information about laptop warranty can be seen here.)
Some examples of laptops with long warranty
 | Amazon Price: $917.89 |
 | Amazon Price: $1,025.89 |
| Amazon Price: $825.89 |
2. Choose a processor that is adequate but not too expensive
Processors are the engine of your laptop. If you get a fast one, you can run a lot of applications faster. That is why processor is such an important factor in choosing a laptop.
These days, however, speed is not the only indicator of capacity for a processor. Some processors are more efficient, even at lower speeds. Higher speeds also mean higher temperatures, which can be difficult to manage in a small laptop -- they can literally burn under the heat.
Many processors nowadays have a dual core, which means that they have a copy of itself available for similar work. This is great because different programs can use different processors, and therefore can run faster as a result. Dual cores are the ones with such capability, and quad-cores (with four processors) are coming to the market.
Intel has made available in the last year a lot of new processors that bring extra processing capacity for laptops. You can find these dual-core process in the new laptops from Dell, HP, and even Macs.
Examples of laptops with excellent processor
 | Amazon Price: $519.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $759.99 |
3. Find a laptop with enough room for growth
Laptops are different from desktop computers mainly in that it is difficult to expand its capacity. If your hard disk, for example, gets full after a few months, it is difficult to replace it with a bigger one. Especially if you find out that this is not allowed by the company.
You should always plan to buy a laptop that has features that allow it to grow without major headaches. For example, extra slots for memory extension, several ports for communication with external devices, replaceable drives, etc. This will certainly pay off when you need to improve your laptop in the future.
 | Amazon Price: $248.00 List Price: $249.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $99.99 List Price: $159.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $2.99 List Price: $29.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $5.99 List Price: $14.99 |
4. Do not be cheap with memory: you always need more
Memory is like money: you always need more. The general law of programming is that each program is made to use ALL memory available at any given time. And companies spend their time creating software that tries to eat even more memory, such as Windows Vista, Java programs, etc.
The good thing is that memory is cheap these days. So, make a good investment and buy enough memory to satisfy the hunger of your preferred applications.
5. Hark disk is essential
One feature that can make or kill your laptop is the hard disk. It is difficult to replace hard disks, and if your is too small it won't fit all the information you need.
Prefer hard disks with generous sizes, even if you have to pay a little more. It is good investment, because it will save you a lot of trouble when you try to install the new multi-Giga software or when you try to store the record you made of your children.
To be continued
This hub ended up longer than I first imagined. However, I still have five more tips for buying a good laptop, so click here to get them.
If you enjoyed this article, visit my other Hubpages:
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Comments
Thanks for the excellent information! Keep up the great work.
These are some great tips you have listed here, especially the one on warranties. It is amazing how many consumers overlook the warranty in whole, and then have problems down the road after purchase. Thanks again.
Thanks for the excellent information! Keep up the great work.
no comment
wow you have quite the collection of hub pages!! good info, I'll be sure to come back when I'm ready to purchase my laptop in a couple weeks
wow you have quite the collection of hub pages!! good info, I'll be sure to come back when I'm ready to purchase my laptop in a couple weeks
Hey Great Hub
Thanks for sharing I am off to check out some of your other hubs.
Thank you. I need a lap top and just starting the hunt.. could you advise me as the the risk/benefit of buying one used on EBay like the ones listed here?
Hi Candie, Ebay is a mixed bag. You can find great stuff over there, but you need to be careful in looking for good bargains. In other words, don't buy the first thing you see. You can use some of the information I give here to check if something listed there would work for you.
My mum is about buy herself a new laptop and she isn't very tech savvy. This is a very useful guide for her. Thank you!
Very useful and helpful indeed. I should have read about this before I got Meagan(my laptop),haha.
Very well written hub .....
very much informative ......
Thank you very much for your great hub, for good advice, good wishes and support. Thanks for sharing your experience with all of us.
I wish I had read this before I got my laptop, but honestly, I don't think it would have changed my decision. The one I have still works very well, but maybe I could have made a better decision.
Good stuff, I wish I came here before buying a laptop.
Perfect stop before buying a laptop.
Thanks for sharing good tips.I have a little knowledge of laptops not very much but after read your article i got very helpful information.Now i can easily buy a good laptop....
Thanks for this great article...........
@gramsmith: I am glad you like the article. I am just trying to share my experience in buying laptops.
Thank you for the buying tips. Now I know more about buying laptops.
i was considering about buying a laptop Thx for sharing this information it really helped me a lot
i cannot decide what laptop to get. can u help me please?
i've just bought a computer that is really fast, how ever i am not sure if its the CPU or the graphics card i should look for when buying a gaming PC what do you think
Your article is quite comprehensive and very useful for new buyers, finding a laptop these days is not easy and to keep up with the latest advancements you need to read guides like this :)
I was just thinking of buying a laptop, this has been helpful. Buying a laptop is not easy and can be confusing with all the new brands coming out. Nice info.
Thanks, BeatsMe. I am glad that people find this information about laptops really useful.
Thanks for sharing the information it makes it so much easier to look for a good laptop and your correct people tend to overlook the warrenty when it comes to new gadgets like a laptop or phone or something.:)Thanks again:)
Good info, but I completely disagree that memory is like money - you always need more, lol! Good line, though. With everything available on the internet, as well as the ability to store files online, there is no need to have stuff cluttering up your hardrive. It is easier to find info on google anyway. Just my thoughs. Otherwise, great hub!
I think sony vaio is a good laptop v
i believe the memory and the processor is among the important features. From my readings, most people suggest to get the most RAM you could get in a laptop. The higher the RAM, the faster the laptop will be
I am also planing to buy a good laptop . Can you provide the top models and feed back on those .
hiii,,
thanks for above tips. can any body give me help for what type of battery in laptop is good for long use
good review....warenty is most important to be notices while purchasing .....
pcrivals 4 years ago
Thanks for sharing the great information! Keep up the good work.